Chapter 5 - Unraveling the Web
The realization hit Adrian like a physical blow to the sternum. Caroline hadn't been a victim of bad weather and tragic luck; she had been hunted down by her own flesh and blood. And for eight months, Adrian had welcomed Natalie into his home, allowed her to hold his infant son, and tolerated her arrogant lectures on parenting because she was Caroline’s sister.
""And you, Victor?"" Adrian asked, his voice shaking with a terrifying, venomous calm. ""How did my loyal attorney end up in bed with my wife’s murderer?""
Victor hung his head, unable to look into Adrian's eyes. ""She found out about the offshore escrow account in the Caymans. Three years ago, I skimmed four million dollars from your European shipping operations. She discovered the paper trail through one of her financial contacts. She told me if I didn't help her draft the custody challenge and ensure you lost Owen, she would leak the offshore ledgers to the federal prosecutor and to you.""
""So you decided to help her kill my infant son instead,"" Adrian whispered.
""No! I swear, the plan was just to create an incident of severe negligence!"" Victor cried out desperately. ""The plan was for security to 'discover' the baby trapped in the car after twenty minutes, rescue him, and have the police document that you were inside drinking while the child was left unattended in dangerous heat! It was supposed to be the final nail in your custody case! But Natalie parked him in the blind spot behind the wall... she meant for him to die, Adrian! I realized it too late! When Maisie ran in, I tried to convince you the boy was upstairs because I panicked!""
""Marcus,"" Adrian said, turning his back on the two men.
""Yes, Boss?""
""Take Grant’s statement on video. Have him sign a full sworn confession detailing every single crime, every bank transfer, and every conversation. Then hand him over to the federal authorities through our clean legal channels. Let him spend the next twenty years in a maximum-security penitentiary for conspiracy to commit murder.""
""And Victor?"" Marcus asked, glancing at the trembling veteran lawyer.
Adrian stopped at the heavy steel door. ""Victor has been part of our organization for a long time. He knows the rules. Confiscate all his assets, liquidate his firm, and hand him over to the state prosecutor with the Macau syndicate’s debt files attached. Let him face the people Natalie borrowed money from without a single dollar to his name.""
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Victor let out a wailing cry of despair as the heavy steel door slammed shut, cutting off his pleas.
Adrian walked upstairs into the blinding daylight. His heart felt heavier than lead, but his mind had never been sharper. The snakes in his inner circle had been exposed, but the head of the serpent was sitting quietly in the second-floor sitting room, still believing her aristocratic lineage would protect her.
